St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-10-29
ALASKA AuRoRAs.


ALASKA AURoRAS.
Aasvslo.sly Bsassif1l ArsA Of KaissAs
seop,e Light.
Lieutenant Ray. in his report to the
| Government on the international polar
expedition to Point Barrow. Alaska.
aays: Every clear night the sky wa
illuminated by the most beautiful lis
plays Of aurora il has ever been my
fortune to witness. They always com.
menced in the northeast and northwest.
and seemed to spring from dark. low
bank Of clouds. The lights were never
stationary for single second, neither
did they ever take the form Of bows q
archeA % often sesa IN othsr -lstieades.
but great curtains AZ light. flashing
with al the prismatic colors. seemed to
b drawn across the heavens, ever
rising and changing. and often caln,i-
mating In . corona at the zenith, and
falling like . shower Of meteoric fire.
As the winter advanced these displays
were more brilliant aad Wore always
Of . character that defies description.
either By pen or pencil. - they were
sever for two seconds alike. They
were unaccompanied By any sound. .
far IS we were able n Observe. and the
deathly stiffness that always prevails In
this region when the sea is closed gave
US an excellent opportunity to detect
any sound had there been any"
Lieutenant Ray thus more specifically
describes one OF these auroras-one Of
the most magnificent displays that he
observed. ead which occurred December
3. 1881:
Tho first appearance was in the
south and southeast, and for several
hours nothing appeared but few pale
arches and bands, which had no re-
markable features worthy Of notice ex-
cept the rapidity with which they
changed their position and character.
They appeared. faded and reappeared
In various parts Of the sky 80 quickly.
that it was very difficult to localize
them. At $40 = n. ssagrow. E,eening.
yellow arch. with . beautiful rosy fringe.
developed in the south-southeast, aud in
a few minutes extended through Taurus.
Cassiopea and Cygnus down to the
north. and for about ten minutes dis
played some extremely beautiful tints.
especially along its northern halt It
seemed to Be composed Of IN infinite
number Of short rays In condition Of
intense vibration. the motion being prin-
cipally in the dirsesioa Of IL length.
while flashes Of the most vivid coloring
beamed out in the most bewildering
variety. At the same time numerous
rays and patches Of quivering light APP
peared in various parts Of the sky in
quick succession. dancing and gryating
to and fro. swift rs the lightning fash.
While the northern half Of the arch re-
manned thus brilliant the southern hall
faded away.
"a few minutes afterward patch Of
rosy. greenish light appeared in the
middle Of Orion. and in . minute or
two developed into numerous shesves |
Of rays with the greatest variety and |
intensity Of motion. and displaying the |
most brilliant color As they rose and
to point close to the star |
Algol. forming an imperfect but most |
brilliant corona. which swayed and
swirled and eddied around our zenith !
with kaleidoscope magnifcencc ut !
lerly indescribable. The changes Of tint.
aspect and position were 80 rapid and
numerous that the eye strove TO follow
their bewilderinx confusion in vain.
Their general motion was to the north.
though . brilliant curtain was ut the
same time moving toward the senith
from the north. The brilliancy Of the
moon seemed to have little effect on the
intensity Of the colors which appeared.
The col0rs were very numerous. Orange.
yellow. rose. ruby. red. peach blossom.
emerald green and numerous interme-
liats tints changed and interchangsd
in beautiful confusion. The whole
of waving wreaths. flick
ering flames. rays, curtains, fringes.
bands and flashing colors. the strange
confusion Of light and motion. pre-
,entcd . picture Of which words can
convey q very poor idea. The whole
display lasted about thirty minutes.
There was also intense magnetic dis
during this time. the needles
being almost manageable. The
Of this aurora was its low
ness in the atmosphere. several patches
II cloud. apparently not very elevated.
far above it. It did not On.
irely disappear until twelve. midday.